Lucy Robson quits job as lawyer to follow her dream of being professional windsurfer

The day I waved goodbye to my legal career: Single mother quits job as lawyer to follow her dream of becoming professional windsurfer

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UPDATED:

12:17 GMT, 22 October 2012

Lucy Robson took the law into her own hands when she decided to follow her dream of becoming a full-time windsurfer.

The young lawyer quit her job, sold her home and – accompanied by her two-year-old daughter – joined the professional circuit on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Competing on the tiny Hebridean island of Tiree, she spoke of her excitement at changing her life.The picturesque island, with its 770-strong population, is one of Miss Robson’s favourite destinations – despite the challenging conditions it often throws up.

Life's a beach: Lucy Robson quit her job, sold her home and – accompanied by her two-year-old daughter – joined the professional windsurfing circuit

There to compete in the latest stage of the UK Wave Tour, she said: ‘I’m really excited about being back in Tiree. It’s so remote. It feels like an adventure. There’s a big fun factor – a real buzz around the island.’

The 32-year-old sportswoman became hooked on windsurfing by chance after borrowing some equipment from a friend. While most women join the professional circuit as teenagers, the ex-lawyer was relatively late into the sport, competing in her first competition at the age of 24.

She said her recent decision to turn professional had involved a lot of soul-searching – most notably about turning her back on a well-paid career.

Chasing her dream: Lucy gave up a well-paid job as a lawyer and will now rely on savings, prize money and sponsorship to make ends meet

The prize money on offer for professionals will not be enough to support her, but she has saved enough in the past 12 months and will seek coaching work and kit sponsorship deals to make ends meet.

Her ambition is to become one of the top three ranked women in the sport by next year – before setting her sights on the world championship.

Miss Robson, who comes from Hove, in East Sussex, added: ‘You can’t do it for the money. You’re fuelled by the passion for it and desire to be a winner.

Surf's up: The windsurfer said she is 'fuelled by passion and a desire to be a winner'

‘My friends tell me I’m fairly impulsive but I want to grasp opportunities and take chances life throws at you, while having fun along the way.’

She and her daughter Marina will next month move permanently to Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, to begin their adventure.

Speaking of her daughter, the single mother – who was back in the water five days after giving birth – said: ‘Marina understands what’s going on and what I’m doing.

‘She says when she grows up she’s going to be a windsurfer like mummy – but better.’